(CEDAR CITY, Utah) - After collecting its first Big Sky win of the year over Weber State on Friday, Southern Utah (4-8-0, 1-2-0) dropped a 2-0 contest to visiting Idaho State (5-6-1, 2-0-1) Sunday. The Thunderbirds were held scoreless for just the second time this year, coming up just short on several scoring opportunities.

“We talked after the game about how you just have to be really hungry to make that last effort, that last toe poke. If you look at the very best teams, people off the ball are working twice as hard as the person on the ball, because they are trying to impact the game however they can,” explained SUU head coach Becky Hogan. “We are almost there. So many balls came close today.”

The T-Birds came out firing early on, but it would be ISU who put the first points on the board as senior forward Kiley Godfrey found junior Amanda Ellsworth for a score in the 30th minute. The Bengals took a 1-0 lead into halftime, then extended the margin with a second goal in the 62nd minute. This time it was freshman Jessica Sanchez connecting with junior midfielder Madeline Gochnour for a break away score that set the final count at 2-0.

Southern Utah finished the match with a 15-9 shooting advantage, as well as a 10-1 lead in corner kicks. Bengal goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic made four saves to post her fourth shutout of the year while Thunderbird freshman Elyssa Hashimoto recorded three stops. Senior forward Sabrina Hernandez led SUU with four shots and Kristy Baron and Shelby Green each drew a caution in the match.

“I thinks it’s just those little things, but we can’t keep learning the same lessons over-and-over,” stated Hogan. “It’s going to be a tough road trip, Portland State, undefeated, Sac State is tough, but this team will rise up, I know they will.”

Southern Utah takes to the road this week for matches at Portland State and Sacramento State. The T-Birds will take on the Vikings this Friday at 2:00 p.m. (MT) before visiting the Hornets on Sunday for another two o’clock showdown. Coverage of SUU soccer is available at www.suutbirds.com.